A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490, 1567-1584
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Nichil, Nichel(l, Nychell, n. [e.m.E. nihil (1579), nichel (1584), med. L. nichil, L. nihil, nothing.] Nothing. b. Nichel in ane old poke nuke, cf. e.m.E. (for) nichels in a bag (1584), nichils in nine pokes (1670, Cheshire dial. in Ray's Prov.). — 1490 Irland Mir. II. 130/29.
The moder … is nichil for the creatur is producit of nocht 1490 Ib. 7/7. a1568 Dunb. Bannatyne MS 95 b/74.
He playis with totum and I with nichell [v.r. nychell] 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 661.
(Bot menstrallis [etc.]) Got nichel [v.r. Mitchell] in ane old poke nuke
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"Nichil n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nichil>
